Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-24

'Ten days anyhow, mebbe two weeks"
he answered "The wilder IL expect me to
settle up his affairs, more OF less"
Ted looked at Nan with grimace of un-
utterable delight; if the father had seen it,
it is doubtful whether duty even could have
urged him from home, certainly not without
administering spanking all round.
sect my things ready as soon as you can, y
he resumed, "for want to catch the three
o'clock train, sure, and you, Ted, get the
hoss harnessed so'st to take me to the
depot"
"Yess'r,n replied Ted; no danger but
that Ted would do his share, and be on time
too.
Nan was on hand, like o Jack-in-the-b box,
to spring at every call, and bring the soap
and the towel, the blaclling brush and whisk
broom, for Joseph Rexford loved to be
waited on, and his toilet for journey, long
or short, was the signal for a series of
gymnastics, participated in by the whole
family.
Half past two came, and Doll was at the
door, and Ted, with q very unbecoming
shade of happiness on his countenance, held
the reins.
you'll want some money, s'poser' said
drew on his overcoat There's five dol
lars" and he passed the precious morsel
out from a roll of greenbacks, gingerly; he
was not a poor man, by any means, and
could have given her twenty-five just as
easily.
"Yes, Joseph" she replied, meekly, as
she tucked away the bill; she did not intend
he should ever see it again, or an exhaust
i've report of the uses made of it, either.
"Wall, goodbye, Jane" Che drew on his
gloves "don't let the young ones run over
you while I'm gone.'
"No, Joseph" she replied, demurely,
with an inward smile.
He went out; there was no silly demon
stration Of affection at parting. "A kiss from
those stern lips would have been an aston
ishment that the family would not have re-
covered from in week, and, getting into
the waiting sleigh, old Doll moved away
Nan turned a somersault; she was fine
loving child, and would have been as happy
as lark, under favorable circumstances
"Oh, goody, goody, goodyl" she ex-
claimed, in glad sohloquy.
"Hush, Nannie," said the mother, re-
provingly, though in her secret heart she
could not blame the child for the ebullition
Ted returned in due time, and the de-
parture was an assured thing. and the boy
already held up his head with an accession
Of self-respect as he took his place as man
of the house. One week was only short
time to plan in, but judicious effort can ac-
complish much in even a week time, and
Mrs. Rexford's plans were chiefly in the
line of merry making, such a one as they
had never been allowed to have.
Hpr fret TToUp WAC a letter. N
living twenty miles away, with an invitation
to spend Christmas.
A visit from Aunt Nan was rare treat
to the children at any time, one which they
rarely enjoyed, however, for Aunt Nan and
Joseph Rexford were not congenial spirits,
she not being able to bottle up her indignant
wrath when he exercised his peculiar gift
of government in her presence; he not
relishing her ''meddlin',n as he designated
her rather free use Of her tongue on occa-
sions, and so she wisely concluded that it
was best to see as little of the domestic
economy as possible, and kept away, to Mrs
Rexford's mingled grief and relief
Teddy's heart, in the meantime, was filed
with great longing; he wanted to make
the patient little mother, whom he loved
with tender, chivalrous devotion, a Christ
mas present.
In the thirteeh years of his life he had no
remembrance of her receiving Christmas
gift, and he was in a brown study the great
er part of his time, planning and contriving
some way to surprise her with present,
but as yet no way had opened.
Harness Doll, Teddy, and wen go to the
village today said the mother one morn
ing. Teddy smiled knowingly as he hurried
away to obey her request, and in a short
time they were on their way. 'Now you
mustn't follow me around she said, with a
smile, as they neared the village; Ted an
swered her with knowing, yet longing,
look. He wanted to ask her for bit Of